Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 19,192, Stephen Dorckester, Conn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Conn.
Dorchester, Stephen Dorchester
No. 19,192
Abigail
CONTENTS
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N. YORK - 2921
Abigail Dorchester widow of Stephen Dorchester Conn. who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died on the 12 th January 1808 of Ghent in the State of N. York who was a Fift. & Pin in the County by Captain Standley of the Reg. by Hagg - in the Com. line for 12 mos 14 dys
Inscribed on the Roll of Albany as the rate of 4 1/2 Dollars 98 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 24 th day of May '39, and attested Tim: P. T. Kin Atticus, N.Y.
Arrears to the 4th of March - $131.94 Semi-annual allowance ending 21.97 $153.91
{ Act July 7, 1838.
R Burdine Clerk 2 - Pres

State of New-York Onida County ss.
On this fifth day of December, eighteen hundred and thirty eight, personally appeared before me Chester Hays, an acting Judge of the County Court, at Onida, the County of Onida, having a clerk there, of said County, Abigail Dorchester, a resident of the City of Utica, in the County of Onida, aged eighty three years, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed July 7 th 1838, entitled 'An act granting half pay and pensions to certain Widows.' That she is the widow of Stephen Dorchester, of whose services in the war of the revolution the accompanying documents are offered as evidence; and further, that she was married on the sixth day of May seventeen hundred and seventy nine; that her husband, the aforesaid Stephen Dorchester, died on the twelfth day of January eighteen hundred and eight, that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January, seventeen hundred and ninety-four, viz: at the time stated.
Abigail Dorchester
Sworn to and subscribed, on the day and year above written, before the ad  progn  notice  in the said Court the said fifth day of December 1838 the said Abigail Dorchester being well  firm  in  mind  and  health to attend count  for  the  purpose  of  making  her  declaration .
Chester Hays, acting Judge of Onida County -

State of New York
On this 5 th day of December 1838 before me Charles H. and first judge of the County of Onond census Eliazaph Dorchester town well known & being duly sworn make oath that he is the son of the within named officer Eliazaph Dorchester & after written name Stephen Dorchester deceased. That the said Stephen died at the time in the foregoing declaration mentioned, at Utica in the said County of Onond, after a confinement of several days, at the house of the deponent but deponent is not able to say of what disorder. That the said officer Eliazaph Dorchester is yet the widow of the said Stephen Dorchester and has not been again married to the best of deponent's knowledge & belief. She has generously lived with deponent since the death of her said husband. - After and has always considered his father & says that he is father of the mother. Given this 5 th day of Dec. 1838 Eliazaph Dorchester before me, by the said commissioner who I certify is of good character & needed to full credit as a witness
Charles H. and first judge
of Onond, and I further certify that after the addition of the last line of the deposition and the addition of two syllables to the preceding line the same was read over before me at the same time - Charles H. and first judge of Onond -
Charles, office, 2, Onond County, ss: I, James Dean Clerk of the said County, certify that Charles Hayden Esq. is first Judge of the County of Onond, duly commis- sioned & sworn, and residing in the said County: - and that the signature written above & within purporting to be his, are genuine.
Given under my hand and seal of office, this 5 th day of December, 1838.
James Dean, Clerk.

John North of Farmington, Hartford County, & State of Connecticut, of lawfull age, being about eighty nine years of age: deposeth & says, he was well acquainted with Stephen Dorchester late of said Town deceased, that sd Dorchester was a Native of sd Town, & that he resided therein, thro all or most of the Revolutionary War: - & that he the Deponent was knowing that the sd Dorchester was in the Year of seventeen hundred seventy six, enlisted as Fifer in a Regiment raised by the State of Connecticut, for six or seven Months, the Deponent believes for six Months, which sd Regiment, was commanded by Fifer Gay Esq r of sd the Town, the Deponent does not know the Officer that enlisted sd Dorchester, nor the Company in sd Regiment in which he served, but believes it was in the Comp y commanded by Gad Standly Esq r , the Regiment was raised the last of the Spring or the first of the Summer the sd Year, & ordered to, or near N o York, for the defence of that place, & the Deponent further says, he is knowing that sd Dorchester did serve in sd Regiment, from the following fact, that he the Deponent, with the whole body of the Militia of sd Town, & a few others, were ordered out in Mass to N o York, about the first of August that same Year, where the Deponent saw the sd Dorchester sundry times, tho the Deponent cannot say, that he is knowing that the sd Dorchester did serve the full term of his enlistment, (as he the Deponent was not in the Regiment with him,) yet from the following facts, he the Deponent has the fullest belief, that he did serve his full term, for the Deponent & the Body of the Militia were discharged & returned home about the last of Sept r or the first of Oct r sd Year, & the Deponent never to his recollection, saw the sd Dorchester after his the Deponents return, untill after the expiration of the term of service of sd Gays Regiment - And further the Deponent saith not JOHN NORTH

State of Connecticut
County of Hartford ss
On this day personally appeared John North, the Deponent, with me the Judge of Probate for the District of Farmington & made oath to the truth of the Deposition by him signed in my presence & I further certify that the said John North is a reputable & credible witness
Oct 9 th 1888
Ezra G. Bowles Judge of Probate
I hereby certify that the above named Ezra G. Bowles is Judge of Probate for the District of Farmington, State of Connecticut, & that the above is his genuine signature —
Attest Ezra G. Bowles Clerk of said District

Compliments
of the
author

Comptrollers Office Hartford Conn t Oct 2 1838
I certify that on application for evidence of the Services of Stephen Dorchester, I find his name on a Pay Roll of the 6 th C o 2 d Regt t rais d by order of Genl l Assembly Conn t 1775 Woodiah Hooker Capt t , where he is entered as a Piper, and commenced service May 4, Discharged Dec r 18 th making 7 months 14 days.
Henry Kirbourn Comp t 3
Comptrollers Office Hartford Conn t Oct 2 1838
I certify that on examination for evidence of the Services of Stephen Dorchester who claims service in Col t Fisher Gay t Regt t in 1776. I do not find Col t Gay t Pay Roll, but find on Pay Table Book under date of June 25 1776 the following Entry. Col t Fisher Gay t Dr t to order on Treas r in ac t for wages his Staff $12 - and under date of July 4 1776 for order on Treas r in ac t of wages his Staff $69 8 - and on Pay Table Book under date Aug t 14 1777 United States Dr t Steph n Dorchester Hospital Bill Col t Gay t Regt t $24 9 -
Henry Kirbourn Comp t 3

V 4521
Abigail Dorchester NY abt 7. July 38.
Adm 171 3.66 7 mo. 14 days fife 3.33 5 mo. pre 43.98
No deduction
Timothy Pitkin Utica NY.

Stephen Dorchester of Farmington, and Abigail Gay of Sharon, were married May sixth, One thousand, seven hundred, and seventy nine.
I Mason Grosvenor of Sharon, County of Litchfield, and State of Connecticut do hereby certify that the above is a true copy of the records of the First Congregational Church in said Sharon, with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the records in fair, legible figures as follows - (viz) - " May 6-1779 ".
I Mason Grosvenor above named depose and say that I held the office of Pastor of the First Congregational Church in said Sharon, and that the above is a true extract from the records of said Church with the exception above named, as certified by me. Mason Grosvenor Pastor of the First Congregational Church
Personally appeared, before me at Sharon aforesaid this 23 rd day of September A.D. 1838, the Rev. Mason Grosvenor signer of the foregoing certificate, and made solemn oath to the truth of the same.
Richard Smith, Justice of the Peace.
I do hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with the Rev. Mason Grosvenor aforesaid, that his signature above written is genuine, & that he is entitled to full credit. Richard Smith, Justice of the Peace.

STATE OF CONNECTICUT, } ss. Litchfield. LITCHFIELD COUNTY,
I Geo. P. Woodruff Assistant Clerk of the County Court of the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Richard Smith Esq is a
Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified, and by Law authorized to administer Oaths and to take the acknowledgment of Deeds . And that his commission
was dated on the 29 th day of May A.D. 1838 and will expire on
the 20th day of June, A.D. 1839 and that the signature to the annexed certificate which purports to be his , is genuine
Given under my hand and the Seal of said Court this
4 th day of Sept r A.D. 1838
Geo. P. Woodruff Assistant Clerk

Rev
WIDOW, &c.
Con
File No. 19192
Abigail Dorechester
Widow of
Stephen Dorechester
Rev. Rev. War.
Act: July 17th /38
Index: Vol. 21 , Page 190
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Home of Maps March 2. 1839
Hon J. L. Edwards
Sir In Enclos you pension papers in the case of Abigail Dorchester - Please inform me of your decision thereon by mail at Rome Oneida Co. N. York.
Very Respectfully Your Obed Servt Henry A. Horton

Report to Hon. H. A. Foster J. L. Edwards Esq. Pajaro Office Washington

Utica Dec r 17 th 1830
J. S. Edwards Esq r Dear Sir,
In behalf of the Widow of Stephen Dorch- ester, who now applies for a pension & takes the liberty to state, that she is far advanced in life, between 80 & 90, in a poor state of health, has one child now able to support her & is almost naturally dependent upon charity; & that, if entitled to the bounty of the government as I believe her husband will show, that bounty, to be useful to her, must be speedily granted.
Under these circumstances, as a speedy com- munication of her claim, as possible, will be an act of great kindness to her. You will, I trust, pro- ceed on my solicitude in her behalf when informed that I was formerly well acquainted with the Dorchester family which lived in the same village with myself in Connecticut.
I remain, Sir, your
Friend & obedient Servt
Sim o Pitkin

Mar. 5. 1839
Mr. of Stephen's Dorchester,
4521
Hon. J. R. Poinsett Sec: of War. Washington, D.C.
For the Pension Office.

Utica, New York, February 25 th 1839.
Sir.
A few weeks since the application of the widow of Stephen Dorchester for a pension by virtue of the late act of Congress granting pensions to the widows of Revolutionary Soldiers, was forwarded to the Hon: Henry A. Foster a representative in Congress from this district, & he presented to the pension office, which has no doubt been done.
The enclosed additional evidence of the service of Stephen Dorchester has just been received by the Son of the Applicant, and I now forward it to the department, and I respectfully ask that it may be considered in connection with the other papers, if the case yet remains to be acted on;
and am With great respect
Yr. ob t Serv t .
Hiram Denis.
Hon: J. R. Poinsett Secty. of War.

1831
Mr Eliasaph Dorchester
Utica
New York

Daniel Gilletson of the town of Farmington County of Hartford State of Connecticut of the age of seventy nine years testifies & says that he was well acquainted with Stephen Dorrchester that he was an inhabitant of the town of Farmington that he enlisted or was drafted into the Regiment Commanded by Jonathan Hooker, into Stoddard Company That he served as a Sergeant in said Company the winter of nineteen hundred and twenty nine he thinks less of two months of which I served with him were regularly discharged at the end of 12 months at Pikes Hill - & further The Deponent saith not - Daniel Gilletson
Hartford County ss Farmington February 19 A.D. 1839 Personally appeared before me Judge of Probate for the District of Farmington Daniel Gilletson the above named Deponent & made oath to the truth of the above deposition & signed the same in my presence - & I further certify that the said Daniel Gilletson is a reputable & credible witness
Ebenezer Bowles Judge of Probate
I hereby certify that the above named Ebenezer Bowles is Judge of Probate for the District of Farmington, & State of Connecticut, & that the above is his genuine signature Attest Gabriel Bowles Clerk of said Court

Dorchester
May 22.
Inat
N.Y.
J. L. Leonard Esq. Superintendent of the Post Office City of Washington

Utica / State of New York May 10 th 1829
J. D. Edwards Esq r
Sir,
In your Letter of the 2 d of April last to the Hon ble Henry A. Foster, in relation to the disposition claim of of Mrs Abigail Dorchester, the widow of Stephen Dorchester, has been put into my hands by the widow, in order to forward to you the evidence required to prove the identity of the person described in the Certificate of the Comptroller of Connecticut, as being married in 1775 to the claimant, at Newland. With this view, I now forward you the testimony of Ezekiel Doolittle Esq r , of Farmington in Connecticut, being the place where Stephen Dorchester formerly lived. As Farmington was my native place, I should have always lived, until two or three years past, I have been long acquainted with Mr Doolittle the Deponent, & know him to be a gentleman of veracity, so that the utmost reliance may be placed upon his testimony.
I beg leave, Sir, to add, that I well recollect there was, a man in Farmington as Stephen Dorchester, & I have always understood that he married a Miss Gay of Sharon in Connecticut. I also know, that Ezekiel Doolittle is Judge of Probate in said Farmington. You may send the report to my or to the place, where the widow lives, or to Newland, as you may think proper.
I am, respectfully
Yours Timothy Pitkin

Comptroller Office Hartford Conn t Oct r 2 d 1838
I certify that on application for evidence of the services of Stephen Dorchester, I find his name on a Pay Roll of the 6 th 6 th 2 Reg t raised by order of the Gen l Assembly Conn t 1775 "Noadiah Hooker Capt t " where he is intended as a Fifer & commenced service May 4 th - Discharged Dec r 18 th - making 7 months 14 days - - - -
Henry Kilbourn Comptroller
Ebenezer Bowles of Farmington, Hartford County, & State of Connecticut, of lawful age, (being nearly eighty three years of age) testifies & says, that he well knows the above named Stephen Dorchester, that he was born & brought up near the Deponant, & that he the Deponant knows by repute the s d Dorchester in The Year seventeen Hundred seventy five, of the Revolution-ary war, did serve as a Fifer during that Year in the Conn t Commanded by Noadiah Hooker Esq r of s d Town, & the Deponant says, he knows by repute (not being present) that Stephen Dorchester who some Years after rendering the above service, Married Abigail Gay of Sharon in s d State, & that they lived together as such, in this Town a number of Years, & then removed into the State of N York, at or near Utica, where by repute they lived untill the Death of s d Dorchester: & the Deponant further says, that the Stephen Dorchester named in the above certificate, from the Comptroller Office, he the Deponant knows him to be the identical Stephen Dorchester; who afterwards Married the above s d Abigail Gay. - And further the Deponant says not - - - - Ebenezer Bowles

Probate Office Farmington District April 29 th AD 1839 -
Personally appeared Ezekiel Bowles the Deponent within named & made oath to the truth of the Deposition by him subscribed, & I further certify he is a credible witness. -
Subscribed Ezekiel Bowles Judge of Probate
I hereby certify, that the above named Ezekiel Bowles, is Judge of Probate for the District of Farmington, State of Connecticut, & that the above is his genuine signature. . . . .
Attest Ezekiel Bowles Clerk of sd District